7 ideal small house floor plans under 1,000 square feet

Stacey Mattish

Contributing Writer

David Fell Photography/Tumbleweed

With so many tiny homes springing up, choosing the right plan before you build can be a challenge. Some homes focus on a larger bathroom, some focus on the great room and some focus on the kitchen. Options in exterior styling and interior lighting and storage can get to be overwhelming. With under 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters) with which to work, you want to make sure you make the right decision.

Each of the tiny homes below has a great floor plan that maximizes the given space while still making the house a home. Since people are individuals with individual needs, each home has its own unique twist, but still represents excellent options for layouts of tiny abodes.

The Whidbey is available in either a one-bedroom or two bedroom layout. Since the pitch of the roof is so steep, the loft is not counted in the habitable square footage, bringing the one bedroom home to 461 square feet (42.82 square meters) and the two bedroom home to 557 square feet (51.75 square meters). The bedrooms, great room, kitchen, and bathroom are all on the downstairs level of the home. The kitchen has a dishwasher, a full range and oven, and a microwave. Plenty of closet space is supposed to be contained within this home. The Tumbleweed site boasts, "Its simple design makes the house affordable to build, and full of light."

The farm house by Family Home Plans is a single floor home with 704 square feet (65.4 square meters) of living space. The porch is 96 square feet (8.92 square meters) and sits off the living room and second bedroom. The farm house is designed to have two bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room and a bathroom.

Long and narrow, this coastal-style house is ideal for lots that are thin, but deep. With 672 square feet (62.4 square meters), this tiny home has two bedrooms and one bathroom. The master bedroom sits in the back of the house. The second bedroom is a "bunk room" and sits between the kitchen and bathroom. The L-shaped kitchen opens into the living room, maximizing the space and giving the house an open feeling.

The Carriage Hills Garden Apartments in Pensacola, Fla., offer apartments that have anywhere from 700 square feet (65 square meters) to 1,000 square feet (92.9 square meters), depending on how many bedrooms the apartment has. Each apartment comes with walk-in closets in the bedrooms. The kitchen, dining room, and living room all flow together making the space feel larger.

The vacation cabin has two floors and a basement, 985 square feet (91.5 square meters) of total living space. The first floor is 740 square feet (69.74 square meters), and the second floor is 245 square feet (22.76 square meters). Containing three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, this vacation home places one bedroom and bathroom in the basement, that also includes a game room. The master bedroom is on the main floor and counts with another bathroom, a closet and a space for the washer and dryer. The third bedroom can be found in the loft, that opens up to the main floor below. A porch wraps around the home, making plenty of space for people to sit and relax in the evening. This cabin counts with a 264 square feet (23 square meters) detached garage as well.

The cottage has only a single floor and 840 square feet (78 square meters). The designer uses high ceilings and lots of windows to keep the space from feeling too small. The cottage has two bedrooms and one bathroom.

The country cottage has two bedrooms and one and one-half bathrooms all placed in 953 square feet (88.56 square meters). The cottage is a one-story home. The kitchen makes wise use of its floor space by placing an island in the kitchen. Walk-in closets help maximize storage space in the bedrooms, and a fireplace in the living room keeps the space cozy.

With so many different possibilities of how to layout your space when building a tiny home, being able to see what others have done is really helpful. Many of the above homes' building plans can be bought and used to build your own home. Going tiny doesn't mean you have to be uncomfortable; you can go tiny and have comfort, too.